The unspoken rules of graffiti

While there are no definite principles for graffiti, many graffiti artists abide by a particular set of unspoken rules. Most graffiti artists also tend to be reluctant to share their insights into the graffiti community online for fear of entanglement with law enforcement. 

When graffiti artists prepare to put up their works, they are usually cautious of two major things: location and whether or not they cover up others’ works. If a graffiti artist put up their work in the wrong parts of town, they could be subject to arrest or worse, killed. 

Before it became popular amongst youth in New York City, gangs dominated the graffiti scene. Gang graffiti appeared in the United States during the 1950s, according to Kan. Gang graffiti typically focuses on tagging to establish different gang territories within a certain area, and is facilitated by junior members of gangs. 

According to Parmar and Bain, “gangs in the 1950s used graffiti for self-promotion, marking territorial boundaries, and as a method of intimidation.”

In many cases, covering up gang graffiti or putting up works of graffiti in gang territory can get you in lots of trouble. 

“If you go into the wrong neighborhood, things can get really dangerous,” Cid said. “I remember when I was around 20 years old, I went back to one of the old neighborhoods I used to go to and started spray painting, then all these little gang member kids surrounded me and were about to beat me up.” 

Cid emphasizes the importance of being aware of graffiti and gang activity around the city. 

“We never did anything over gang graffiti, because we never wanted to mess with gangs,” Cid said. “We also wouldn’t paint over anything that we thought was awesome, or something that inspired us because by covering up someone else’s piece, you’re automatically starting a battle with them.”

Choosing a spot to put up graffiti can be challenging; depending on what type of graffiti a person might want to put up, different locations may be more suitable. If a graffiti artist just wanted to put up a quick tag, they could do it just about anywhere, out in the open. Tags tend to be quick, like signing a signature, and most taggers want their tag to be seen by the general public or other graffiti artists within a community. 

For more intricate pieces, however, finding a suitable location can become more tricky. Graffiti artists want their works to be seen, but it’s difficult to avoid arrest while illegally putting up graffiti out in the open.

“Pieces” typically refer to more elaborate works that distinguish how different graffiti artists or writers express their imaginations, according to Kan. In many cases, pieces can be considered a form of social or political statement, as seen with works by viral graffiti artist Banksy, whose works are often laced with meaningful messages about the world.

The most common method of getting graffiti up into high places is by using climbing gear, Cid noted. 

“People do crazy climbing stunts, and it’s really risky,” Cid said. “I was a scaredy cat, but I did do stuff in high places and climbed walls. It’s really risky and dangerous, but that’s part of the fun.”

Graffiti artists usually aim to find a location to put up their works where many people will see them. A large part of why graffiti artists vandalize public property comes from wanting a way to express themselves. 

“It’s like having an outdoor gallery that’s free and accessible to anyone in neighborhoods that don’t have galleries or fancy art museums, and it allows people to have a voice and leave a mark, whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing,” Cid said.